Did you know that March is Endometriosis Awareness month? Do you even know what Endometriosis is? And if so, do you
know that acupuncture can be an effective complementary treatment to manage the
symptoms of endometriosis?
 Endometriosis refers to the painful and chronic condition in
which the tissue that lines the uterus is found outside of the uterus as well –
on the fallopian tubes, in the abdomen, on the ovaries, on the ligaments
supporting the uterus, and on the lining of the pelvic cavity. This tissue acts
the same way that it does in the uterus – meaning that it builds up, breaks
down, and sheds each month. When this tissue is in the uterus, where it is
supposed to be, this causes the menstrual flow, which is a good and healthy
occurrence. However, when this tissue is misplaced elsewhere in the body and
sheds, the blood doesn’t have anywhere to go, and can cause pain, scar tissue
formations, and adhesions.
Common clinical symptoms of endometriosis include intense
pain before and during periods, pain with sexual intercourse, infertility,
painful bowel movements, and chronic digestive issues. Standard treatment options for endometriosis include pain
medication to moderate the cramping and pain with the menstrual cycle, hormonal
therapy to stop ovulation for as long as possible (which has other
understandable side-effects), “conservative” surgery to remove as many of the
growths and lesions as possible, or in severe cases, radical surgery such as
removal of the ovaries or complete hysterectomy.
The good news is, acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine
can help! The Endometriosis Association
recommends Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a complementary therapeutic
treatment for endometriosis patients.
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine treatment focuses on treating
the underlying imbalance causing the endometriosis symptoms – from a TCM
perspective, this is often related to “blood stagnation”, meaning that the
blood energy of the body is not moving properly, particularly in the
reproductive system. This stagnation causes the pain, cramping, and digestive
upset commonly seen in patients with endometriosis. The TCM treatment also
focuses on nourishing the reproductive system to restore hormonal balance and
reduce symptoms. Preliminary Western scientificresearch has also shown that
acupuncture may reduce pain in endometriosis patients.  TCM also uses nutritional therapy to treat
cases of painful periods and to regulate the menstrual cycle. Patients with
endometriosis, for instance, should stay away from heavy meats, dairy products,
and refined sugars, all of which are cloying and stagnating to the system.
Depending on whether the endometriosis is more of a hot or a cold-type
stagnation (your acupuncturist can tell you which), there are many other spices
and foods that are recommended to include or avoid in the diet in order to
promote the smooth flow of energy and blood through the reproductive system.
So if you or someone you know suffers from endometriosis,
spread the word (this is Endometriosis Awareness month, after all!) about the
benefits of acupuncture and natural medicine for complementary treatment
options.
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